Automatic section-switch.



W. SGHAAKE.

AUTOMATIC SECTION SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1911.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

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WILLIAM SCHAAKE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SECTION-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Application filed March 13, 1911. Serial No. 614,231.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM SCHAAKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Section-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to section break devices for trolley line construction, and it has special reference to automatic section switches which are adapted to be operated by the trolley of a passing electric vehicle for the purpose of cutting in or out an end or plug section of a trolley system.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character which shall be rugged and durable in construction, particularly adapted to withstand the severe tensional stresses to which it is subjected, and which embodies a single positively actuated means for accentuating the position of a movable switch member and for effecting a quick movement thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view, partially in plan and partially in horizontal section, of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line TIL-III of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device herein shown comprises parallel tension bars 1 and 2 of insulating material, end members 3 and 4: secured thereto and provided with suitable trolley-wire clamping means 5 and 6, stationary contact terminals 7 and 8, a supporting or yoke memher 9, a switch member 10 pivotally supported therein and adapted to make contact with either of said stationary contact terminals, and a spring-actuated mechanism 11 for accentuating the position of the switch member 10 and effecting a quick movement thereof.

The parallel tension bars 1 and 2 are of like construction and are preferably made of wood, although any suitable insulating material may be employed. One side of each bar is provided with transverse end slots 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The end members 3 and 4 are also of like construction and each is provided with lateral projections 13 which are adapted to fit tightly into the transverse slots 12 in the tension bars 1 and 2. Cap members 14, which envelop three sides of each tension bar, are provided near each end thereof, a plurality of bolts 15 being employed to secure said cap members and said tension bars to the end members 3 and 4 and to maintain said parts in the desired relationship.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the tensional stresses in the side bars 1 and 2 are borne by the bars themselves and by the lateral projections 13 of the end members 3 and i, thereby relievmg the bolts 15 from any shearing stresses. This type of construction is particularly advantageous in a device of this character and permits of unusually excessive tensional strains. I As the trolley-wire clamping means 5 and the trolley-wire clamping means 6 pertain only indirectly to my invention and may be replaced by any other suitable devices to accomplish the same purpose, it is not deemed necessary to describe the same.

The stationary contact terminals 7 and 8 respectively constitute integral parts of the end members 3 and 4t and are adapted to be engaged by the switch member 10 which is pivotally supported between them upon a pin 17.

The switch member 10 is of substantially V-shape in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to conform to the general contour of the usual trolley wheel (not shown), with which it is adapted to engage. The switch member 10 is provided with centrally disposed upwardly projecting arms 18 and 19, through which the pin 17 extends to constitute its pivotal support.

In order to insure operation of the switch member 10 by means of a passing trolley wheel (not shown), the lateral arms 20 and 21 thereof project downwardly, as shown. The arm 20 is provided with a detachable auxiliary contact member 22 which is adapted to cooperate with a similarly mounted auxiliary contact member 23 which forms a part of the end member 4. The arrangement of parts is such that the separation of the auxiliary contact members 22 and 23 is effected subsequently to that of the main terminals 8 and 20, whereby the arcing incident thereto is confined to the auxiliary contact members, in the usual manner. A flexible conductor 24 is electrically and suitably connected between the end member 3 and the switch member 10.

The supporting member, or yoke 9, is secured to the middle portions of the tension bars 1 and 2 and comprises a body portion 25 and downwardly projecting arms 26 and 27 which are rigidly fastened to the tension bars 1 and 2, respectively, by means of bolts 28. These arms 26 and 27 are also adapted to support the pin 17. The body portion 25 is provided with a vertically disposed cylindrical recess 29 to receive a coil spring 30 and a pin or plunger 31. The spring 30 is located in the upper portion of the recess 29 and is adapted to act against the plunger 31 which fits loosely into the lower portion thereof and is guided thereby. .The plunger 31 is provided with a slot 32 through which the pin 17 extends, and its lower end is beveled on opposite sides to form a V-shaped end portion which is adapted to cooperatively engage a roller 33, the latter being pivotally mounted upon pin 34: between the arms 18 and 19 of the switch member 10. The pin and slot connection just referred to, not only prevents the plunger 31 from dropping out of its position but also maintains the beveled V- shaped end in proper relation to the roller 33, as will be readily understood.

Assuming the various parts of the device to occupy the positions shown, it is evident that the trolley conductor 35, which constitutes a portion of an end or plug section of a trolley system, is segregated from the trolley conductor 36, which forms a part of the system proper, and, hence, is dead. When a car enters the plug section 35,the trolley wheel thereof, in moving along the switch member 10, causes the arm 20 to be forced upwardly to make engagement with stationary contact terminal 8, and also causes the auxiliary contact terminal 22 to engage its cooperating contact terminal 23. Thus, energy is supplied from the trolley conductor 36, through end member 3, flexible conductor 24:, switch member 10,'contact terminal 8, and end member l, to the trolley conductor 35. As the switch member 10 moved into its dead center position, it is evident that the coil spring 30 is placed under compression by means of the cooperative engagement between the roller 33 and the plunger 31, and when this critical position is passed, the energy stored in the spring 30 is exerted against the plunger 31 and the switch member 10 is caused to close with a snap movement, after which it is maintained in its closed position by reason of the accentuating device 11. hen the car leaves the plug section 35, the trolley wheel thereof engages the switch member 10 and effects the opening of the switch in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. By reason of the spring and plunger mechanism 11, a quick break is accomplished, thus avoiding any long and severe arcing be tween the contact terminals 22 and 23, it being understood that the final interruption of the circuit is efiected through these members. lhe accentuating mechanism 11 also restrains the switch member 10 in its open position.

'From the foregoing, it is seen that the plug section 35, which is normally dead, is energized only when a car is being operated thereon and is disconnected from the rest of the system as soon as the car leaves the section.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand that my invention is capable of various modifications in structm al details and in the arrangement and location of parts, and I desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switching device comprising bars of insulating material, end portions secured to said bars, a movable switch member mounted intermediate said end portions and adapted to engage the one or the other end portion, and means acting on said switch member for accentuating its position and causing a quick movement thereof.

2. A switching device comprising bars of insulating material, end portions secured to said bars, a movable switch member mounted intermediate said end portions and adapted to engage the one or the other end portion, and a single spring-actuated means cooperating with said switch member for accentuating its position and eflecting a quick operation thereof.

3. A switching device comprising parallel side bars of insulating material, end portions secured to said bars,-a switch member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends be tween said end portions and adapted to engage either end portion, a projecting member on said switch member, and a spring actuated plunger to engage said projecting member, whereby a quick movement of said switch member is effected and said switch member is restrained in either of its operating positions.

1. A switching device comprising parallel side bars of insulating material, end portions secured to said bars, a pivotally mounted switch member adapted to engage the one or the other end portion, a roller mounted on said switch member, and a spring-actuated plunger having a V-shaped end portion to engage said roller.

5. A switching device-comprising parallel side bars of insulating material, end portions secured .to said bar, a switch member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends between said side bars and adapted to engage either end portion, a supporting member secured to said bars, a spring-actuated plunger associated with said supporting member, and a cooperating pivotally mounted roller associated with said switch member.

6. A section break device for trolley conductors comprising parallel side bars of insulating material, end portions secured to said bars and adapted to grip the trolley conductors, stationary contact terminals on said end portions, a movable switch member pivotally mounted between said side bars and intermediate the contact terminals, said switch member being adapted to engage the one or the other contact terminal, a supporting member secured to said side bars and having a vertically disposed recess therein, a coil spring and a plunger having a V- shaped end portion disposed in said recess, and a roller pivotally mounted on said switch member to make operative engagement with the ll-shaped end of said plunger.

7. A section break device for trolley conductors comprising parallel side bars of insulating material having transverse recesses in their inner sides near their ends, end members disposed between said bars and having oppositely projecting transverse pro jections that fit into said recesses, and means for clamping said side bars and end members together.

8. A section break device for trolley conductors comprising parallel tension bars of insulating material having transverse inside recesses near their ends, end members disposed between said bars and having outside oppositely disposed projections that fit into said transverse recesses, clamping means associated with each end member to grip said trolley conductor, caps for inclosing the ends of said bars, and bolts cooperating with said caps for clamping said tension bars and said end members together.

9. A section break device for trolley conductors comprising end members adapted to grip a trolley conductor and having outward lateral side projections, parallel tension bars of insulating material disposed on the respective sides of said end members and havin g transverse inside recesses near their ends to receive said projections, channel shaped protecting caps disposed over the ends of said tension bars and having recesses to receive the ends of said projections, and clamping means cooperating with said caps for rigidly securing said bars to said end members.

10. A section break device for trolley conductors comprising end members adapted to grip a trolley conductor and having lateral projections, parallel tension bars of insulating material having transverse slots near their ends to receive said projection, means for clamping said bars to said end members, a switch member located between said bars and pivctally supported at its middle, said switch member being adapted to engage either of said end members, and single means for accentuating the operative position of said switch member and for eflecting a quick movement thereof.

11. A switching device comprising bars of insulating material, end portions secured thereto, a movable switch member mounted intermediate said end portions, stationary contact terminals adapted to be engaged by said switch member, and means for accentuating the position of said switch member.

12. A switching device comprising a plurality of parallel bars joined at their ends, a movable switch member mounted between said bars and intermediate their respective ends, stationary contact terminals adapted to be engaged by said switch member, and means cotiperating with said. switch memher for efiecting a quick operation thereof.

13. A switching device comprising a ten sion bar, end parts secured thereto and having stationary contact terminals associated therewith, a movable switch member mounted upon said tension bar intermediate the end parts and adapted to engage said contact terminals, and means for accentuating the position of said switch member.

14-. A switching device comprising a supporting frame having an elongated opening therein, stationary contact terminals disposed at the respective ends of said opening, a movable switch. member mounted within said opening and adapted to engage said terminals, and accentuating means for effecting a quick movement of said switch member.

15. A switching device comprising parallel side bars, end parts secured thereto, a pivotally mounted switch member disposed intermediate said side bars, stationary contact terminals adapted to be engaged by the respective endsof said switch member, and spring actuated means for cooperating with said switch member to accentuate its position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day of March,

WILLIAM SCHAAKE. Witnesses M. B. CARPENTER, B. B. Hmns.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

